Antipanic actuator for door fasteners



Oct' 25 19.27 w. B. BULLES ANTIPANIC ACTUTJR FOR DOOR FASTENERS FiledJune .1, 1925 2 lsnevwsheet 1v w. B. BOLLES 4ANTIPANIKC ACTUATOR FORDOOR FASTENERS 2 Sheets-Sheetl 2 File'd Jupe IL,Y 1925 fixa vf- 05.35%..wm QLM Patented Oct. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEl WILLIAM BERTRAM BGLLES, OF IEILVAUKEE,XVISCONSII.

ANTIPANEC ACTUA'IOR Application filed .Tune l,

This invention relates to anti-panic door fastener actuating mechanismfor use upon doors, particularly those doors which form the closures forpublic buildings such as schools, theaters, auditoriums, etc., and whichare adapted to permit. ready exit from the interior of the building.Such fastener actuating mechanisms are operated by a bar, handle, leveror similar actuating element by means of which the mechanism may beeasily operated by any person seeking exit and the operating element isso disposed that the fastener actuating mechanism will be oper-v ated bycontact of any portion ot the body o't a person in case a crowd shouldsurge against the door to automatically release the door so that it mayswing outward to permit exit.

An object of the present invention is to adapt anti-panic ldoor fasteneractuating mechanisms and particularly mechanisms of the type shown in myPatents Nos. 1,383,973 and 1,383,974, granted July 5, 1921, in which themechanism acts to release the door upon actuation of the operatingmember in either direction, from the intermediate position in which itis normally held, to operate the knob spindle of the door to which themeel anism is applied to release the latch controlled thereby uponactuation of the operating member in either direction.

A further object is to provide means for locking` the actuatingmechanismeither in a position in which the door is tree to swing or in a positionin which the door is locked.

lilith the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said.to comprise the fastener actuating mechanism as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, hereinafter described, and particularly set torthinthe appended claims together with such variations and modilicationsthereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which theinvention appertains. i

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthe specilicat'ion ot which Fig. 1 is an elevation et the fasteneractuating mechanism loo-king toward the inner side of the casing inwhich the mechanism is housed;y Fig. 2 is yan edge elevation showing theactuator applied to a door; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing amodified form of fastener actua-ting mechanism and Figs. l and 5 areviews similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing a modilied term ot fasteneractuating mechanism.

FOR :DOOR EASTENERS.

lower slides 6 and 7, which are carried for vertical movement within thecasing and project through the upper and lower ends of the casing. Theprojecting ends of the slides G and 'i' may have attached theretofastener bolts which engage suitable keepers in the 'top oi the door'trame and in the floor or sill. The lower slide 7 is provided with alaterally projecting portion 8 at-its upper end which is recessed toprovide a seat tor the lower end of a compression spring 9,

which hears at its upper end against the.

upper end of the casing 5. The two slides are in alignment, and thelower slideI 7' may be provided with a cylindrical extension which titswithin a cylindrical bore in the upper slide 6. A Vslide actuating leverV11 is mounted in the casing upon the outer side of the lower slide 7,the lever 11 being rotatably mounted upon the wall et the casing 5. Thelever 11 is provided, intermediate its ends, with a-projectingcylindrical hub portion 12 which fits within a cylindrical recess in aboss 13 formed inthe wall of the casing. @ne end of the lever 11 isconnected by a link 11ito a lateral projection 7i secured to the lowerslide 7. rThe upper slide 6 is provided with a lateral projection 6 fromwhich is suspended a short link 15 which is connected at its lower endto a long link 16,

which extends alongside the slide 'T and is connected intermediate itsends to the end ot the lever 11 opposite that to which the link 141 isconnectechby means of a pivot 17. rlhe lower end of the link 16 has arounded bearing portion 18 adapted to engage against. the side wall oitthe casing and has alaterally projecting toot portion 19 which projectsinto a notch 20 formed in the slide 7. The outer wall o't the casing 5has an outwardly projecting boss 21 in which is mounted a pivot pin 22which carries the operating lever 23.

The lever 23 has a projection 24 which eX- tends through a slot in thewall of ythe casing into a slot L5 formed inthe slide i". ylhc slot 25communicates with the notch 2O and the projection 24: lies between theupper end or' the slot 25 and the foot portion 19, of the link 16. Thespring 9 acts to torce the lower Vslide 7 downwardly and when the slide7 is moved downwardly, it acts through the link 11i to turn the lever 11about its pivot and through the links 15 and 16 to move the up-V perslide 6 in an upward direction. The slide 7 moves downwardly under theaction of the Y springQ and at the same time the link 16 moves upwardlyuntil the projection 2e, ot the operating lever, is engaged bythe upperend ofthe slot an-d thev upper tace ot. the foot 419. operating lever,is so engaged, the lever is held in an intermediate position. It thelever 23 be moved downwardly from this position, the projection Vwillmove ugwardly, moving` the'slide 7 up and through the lever 11 and the'links, connecting the saine to the slides 7 and, will move the slide 6downwardly, It :the lever 23 be moved in an upward direc tion, the links16 will be moved downwardly and Vwith it the slide 6 and `at the sametime the lever 11 will be actuated to lift vthe slide 7; It is'thusapparent that the operatingl lever 23 be moved in .either direction fromthe 'intermediate position in which it is nor-V Vmally held by thespring 9, the two slides 6 Vand 7 will hemovedtoward each other andlocking bolts carried' by these Vslides `will be retracted. A Theprojection 2e ot the operating lever is `preferably roundedand theupzper tace ot' the toot 19 and the upper end ot the slot 25 are beveledso Athat the projection 24;'may roll and slightly slip upon the bevel-Vedtaces `as the lever approaches the end ot its stroke in eitherdirection. 1f Y rlie slide 7. is provided with `'an' elongatedlongitudinal -slot V26 l through which the' knob spindle d projects andthe hub portion 12 oi the lever 11 has an axial socket 2? in which theinner end of the spindle fi lits. 'llVhenever the operating lever 23isactuated, af turning movement is imparted to the lever 11 through thelink 14 or through the link 16, depending upon the direction in whichtheV lever ,23` is actuated, the. turning mov-ement ofthe lever 11 beingalways in tlie'same direction.V

'lllielatch operating Vknob spindles otidoors links' 14 and 16 on thesides opposite thatshown. l

are sometimes arranged `to'operatethe' latch .when` turned inonedirection and'insome locks the releasing movement orn the spindlev'is oppositegthat in others. It is obvious that the actuating mechanismabove described may. he adaptedV toV operateal spindle inv a directionopposite that. shown inthe ,dra-.wings by. merely .reversingV theconnections 'from the lever 11 to the slides, Yaijraiiging the ofthelslide .'.1'

T.lVlien' a public building is `not heing'used Vasa meeting-place, itmay be desirable te 'permaneiitlylock certain. of .the exit doors andWhen the projection 2l, of the in some instances when certain doors arebeing constantly used, it may be desirable to lock the door latches andbolts in retracted position so that the doors are tree to swing.

This may be accomplished by providing spaced holesV 28 and 29 in thesides oi the boss 21, which are so positioned that they are adapted to'register with a hole in the lever 23. Villen the lever 23 is in apositionfto hold the actuating mechanism in fastener re-V leasingposition and when the lever is in its intermediate position, Vwhere'theiast-ener's intermediate position, where the fasteners ,l to receivea padlock, by means ot vwhich the actuating mechanism may belocked,Aeither in' released position or in door locking position, thus thedoors may be rendered tree to swing or maybe permanently locked untilthe padlock is removed.

either in door 'fasteningor door releasing position, so thatthemechanism'may be readily released trom the inside or" the building,this Y may be done by means of a set screw 30 in the slide ,7 below thecasing 5, which may be engaged in either ottwo holes 303er 30b in a incases where it desired merely to retain the mechanism ulate 31 formino*an extension of the casino Y llihen the screwr 30 is engaged in theupper hole 30?, the actuating mechanism is retained indoor-releasingposition and when the screw 3()l is engagedin the hole30h, the fastener Vactuating mechanism is held against .movement in adirectionto release 'he iasteners.' The slide 7 may also be providedwith transverse apertures 30c which are adapted to register withopenings 30d in an `extension a of the casing one when the mechanism isin locking position so that theV mechlill) anisin may be secured inlocking positionf Y by a padlock andthe other .when the mechanism is infastener releasing position. 4

ln Fig.' 3V 'of the drawing, l have shown a modiiied torni ot' fasteneractuating' mechanism in which the lcasing V32, which houses theactuating mechanism, has mounted therein vertically movable slide 3 3which slides in a guideway 3e in the upper part' of the casing, movement'ot the slide V33in an'upward direction being resisted by coil springsY35 interposed between the .upper e Vdot the slide 33 and the top of thecasing 32. Pivot- Vallymounted inthe outer :wall of the casing is, anactuating lever37 similar tothe lever e 11 above described, which hasahub portion .33 journaled in the wallfo the` casingrland anaxialsocket'39 `in which'the knob spin-Y die l1- lits, the slide 33 beingVprovided withl is 'suspended a. long 'linklil which has v,a

4 rounded,bearing portion i2 at itsl lower end adapted to engage thesidewall oli the casing fand a projecting toot portion 43j lwhichv tendslaterally from therbearing portion 412.' A shortlink eli is connected tothe opposite va longitudinal slot l10'through which the spindle entends.,Fiorn. one end of the lever end of the lever 37 and to the upper end ofan auxiliary slide 45, which has a back-plate 46 engaging the outer wallot the casing. The back-plate 46 lies between the lower end of the slide33 and the outer wall oi' the casing and the slide 45 has an inwardlyprojecting lug 48 beneath the lower end oi the slide 33. Between the lug48 and the .side wall oi the casing the slide 45 is provided with aspring` receiving recess 49 in whichhis mounted a coil spring 50 whichbears at its lower end in the bottom of the recess and has its upper endagainst a part. 5l projecting laterally troni the lower end of the slide33, the part 5l having a horn 5ln projecting into the upper end of thespring. The lug 48, ot' the auxiliary slide and the foot portion 43 ofthe link 4l, receive between them the projecting portion 24a of anoperating lever similar to that shown in Figs. l and 2, the under faceot the lug 48 and the upper face of the toot portion 48 being beveled toprovide inclined engaging faces for the projection 24 of the operatinglever, as in the modification tirst described.

When the projection 24 is moved upwardly, the slide 45 is lifted androcks the lever 37 through the link 44. lWhen the projection 24 is moveddownwardly, the link 4l is moved in a downward direction and rocks thelever 37 inthe saine direction as when the projection 94a is movedupwardly. The spring 35 presses down on the slide 33 and serves to holdthe foot portion 43 and the lug 48 both in engagement with theprojection 24aj of the lever, thus holding` the lever in itsintermediate position and actuation or the lever in either direction,from its inten mediate position, serves to rock the lever 37 and turnthe knob vspindle in a direction to release the latch. The slide 33 maybe provided with an inwardly extending projection 53, which may extendinto a slot in the door and coact with the door lock mechanism torelease the lock whenever the slide 33 is actuated. The slide 33 isalways actuated in the saine direction regardless ot the direction oi"the movement ot the operating lever and the thrust oi2 the operatinglever is always transmitted to the slide 33 through the spring 50regardless oi the direction in which the operating lever is inoved.

rlhe link 4l may be provided with an eX- tension 54, which extendsdownwardly from the toot portion 43 through the lower end of the casingand this extension may be provided with a threaded opening 52 adapted toreceive a set screw which may be engagedr in either et two spacedopenings 55 in a plate 5G forming an extension of the casing, thespacedopenings 55 being positioned to hold the actuating mechanismeither in door releasing position or against movementout of! theposition in which the fasteners are en- `at its upper end to gaged. Theextension 54 oi' the link 4l may be provided with a transverse aperture57 which is adapted to register with apertures 58 in an extension 59 ofthe casing when the mechanism is in locking position so that themechanism may be secured in this position by means oi' a padlock.

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing, l? have shown' a modilied torni otspindle operating door fastener actuator in which the actuator xasing(5.() is applied to the door l in such a manner that the knob spindle 4projects into the upper end .of the casing. 'l'he casing 60 has pivotedthereto, an operating lever 6l which is connected by a pivot 62 to aboss projecting from the outer tace of the casing', the lever (il havingattached thereto a coil spring 64 which has one end bearing against theinner side of the boss and its opposite end bearing against the outerwall of ser-ving to assist in moving the lever 6l to and in holdingl thelever Gl in a position substantially midway between its upper and lowerlimits oil n'ioven'ient. The lever 60 has a projection 65 which extendsthrough the iront wall ot the casing (il), the upper tace oi theprojection being engageubie with a slide mounted for vertical movementwithin the casing and the under side thereof being engagec ble with alateral projection 67 at the lower end of a link G8 which is pivotedlever G9, which is pivoted midway between itsends to the iront wail otlthe casing 60. The end ot' the lever (59 opposite that to which the link(5S is attached, is connected by a short link 'YO with the upper end oi'the slide (56. When the lever (il is pushed downwardly, the projection65 of the lever is raised and liits the slide 66. When the lever 6l isliited, the proj ectioii 65 thereof, is moved downwardiv engaging theproject-ion 67 ot the link (3h pulling the link 68 downwardly androcking thelever (i9 in a direction to litt the slide (5G through thecoiinecting link TO. The slide 66 is thus moved in :in upward direction,whenever the lever (il is moved in either direction 'troni itsintermediate position. The slide 6G is provided with a spring receiving'socket 7l in which is mounted a compression coil spring 72 which bearsat its upper end against the lower end ot a vertically movable slide 74.rif'he slide 74 is carried :tor vertical movement in the casing GO andis held in its lowerinost position by a compression spring 75,interposed between the upper end ol' the casing and a lateral projectionat the upper end of the slide rlhe slide T4 a. projection i? on the sideopposite the projectionG and this projection 77 is connected by a shortlink T8 with a lever 79 which has a hub portion 8O which is journaled ina boss 8l termed in the casing 60, the spring 64` lll) the outer wall ofthe casing 60 and has a square socket adapted to receive the'inner endof the knob'spindle 4.

When the lever 6l is moved in either direction from its intermediateposition, the slide GG is' moved upwardly and through the cushioningspring 72 which imparts an up ward thrust to the slide Tel causing theslide Zfl to move upwardly compressing the spring 75 and rocking'theknob actuating lever 79 Vabout its pivot to turn the spindle 4 torelease the door latch. Thus the knob spindle is alnfaysl 'turned in thesame direction and is'actuated to release the latch by movement of thellever 61 in either direction from itsV intermediate position, the thrustof thelever 6l in either direction being cushioned by the compressionspring 72.

rlhe link 68 may have an integraiprojection 82 provided with the lockingmeans described in connection with Figs. l, 2 and 3 VVfor securing themechanism in locking orVY door releasing position. y

The upper end portioniot the slide 6G has an abutment 83 against whichthe laterally extending lower end portion oit the slide li is held bythe compression spring 'Z0 when the mechanismV is in looking position,the

abutment 88 serving to maintain the spring sion and preventing thespring i2 from 72 underI a predetermined initial compresre- T5.

acting against the slide 'returning .spring ltisito be understood thatby Vai mere` versal ot the arrangement themechanism shown inligs. l and5 may be adapted to operate a latch spindle oli' the opposite hand.Having thus described my invention, lA claim: I

1. ln a `device of thefcharacter described, the combinatioi'rwith a doorhaving a latch and a` knob spindle `lor actuating the latch,

of an anti-panic door releasing mechanism,

f comprising a easing adapted to be applied Y said .comprising casingadaptedjto'be' applied to a door and toreceive one end or sait'spindle', a movable operating member upon theiontside of the casing, aspindl"J actuat-y ing member within the casing adapted to be actuatedby, said ioperating member and yielding means interposed I'between said`operating and spindle actuating members.

ln a devieeot the charactersV described,

the combination with a door having a latch and al Vknobspindle foractuatingvthe latch, of an anti-panicdoor releasing mechanism`comprising a casing adapted to be applied to a doorand to receive oneend ot' saidspindle, a movable operating member upon the outside of thecasing, means `within the casing adapted to be actuated by saidoperatingV member to turn Asaid spindle to release the latch, andmeansgfor locking raid mechanism in positions in which said spindle isheld either in latch releasing position or in locking position. y Y

l. In a device of the character described, the combination with a doorhaving a latch and a knob spindle for op rating the latch, of acasing-.adapted to be attached tothe :tace ot' the-door, an actuatingmember rotatably mounted within the casing, said acytuati'ng memberhaving an axial socket to receive tie knob spindle, a lever carried bythe casing and pivoted on an axis at right angles tothe otjsaidactuating member,means ifoi" normally holding said lever Vin anintermediateposition, and means operatedby said :lever when the same isactuated in eitherdirc member. V

'5. ln a device otthe character described,

the combination with. a door having a latchintermediate position, meansoperated by` saidlever when the same is ioved inV one direction romfsaidinterniediate positionY for turning saidmactaating' member inV onedirection, and means operated. by said lever rwhen they saine is movedin the opposite direction from its intermediate position :for turningvsaid' actuating member in `the same direction.

6. ln a device el the clnzraeterdescribed,

the combination-with a-door having a latch 1 kand a knob` spindletoroperating the latch,

of acasing adapted to beattached `tothe aceoi the door, a spindleoperating lever having a hub portion journaled in the'outer wall oi' thecasing andan axially disposed spindle receiving socletlin saidflhubportion, a slide in said casing, a linkv connection between said slideand spindle operating lever,

fand a main 'operating' lever lpiveted upon the outsideof saidfcasingand `having a portion projecting able withztheslide. g

- 'l'. lnla deviceofthe character described, the v combination with a:door having-V a latch @"into the casing and engageand a knobspindle-tor operating the latein',

ction for turning said actuat-V lll) of a casing adapted to be attachedto the tace of the door, a spindle operating lever having a hub portionwhich is journaled in the outer wall ot the casing, said hub por tionhaving an axial spindle receiving socket, a main actuating lever pivotedto the casing and having an outwardly extending portion and a portionprojecting into the casing, members within the casing positioned to beengaged by opposite sides ot' lthe projecting portion oil the lever, andoperating connections between said members and spindle operating lever.

8. In an anti-panic door releasing mechanism, a casing adapted to beattached to the tace of a door, a pair of aligned slides, an actuatingmember carried by the casing, means within said casing adapted to beopel ated by said actuating member for moving said slides simultaneouslyin opposite directions, and a spring interposed between one of theslides and the casing.

9. ln an anti-panic door releasing mechanism, a casing adapted to beattached to the tace ot a door, a pair ot aligned slides, a leverpivoted intermediate its ends in the casing, links connecting oppositeends of said lever to said slides, and a spring interposed between oneof said slides and the casing.

l0. ln a device of the character described, the combination with a. doorhaving` a latch and a knob spindle for actuating the latch, ofanti-panic door releasing mechanism, comprising a casing adapted to beapplied to a door and to receive one end of said spindle, ay movableoperating member upon the outside of the casing, means for normallyholding the operating member in an intern'iediate position, a memberwithin the casing connected to the spindle and adapted to be operated bythe operating member when the same is moved in either direction from itsintermediate position to turn said spindle, and yielding meansinterposed between said members.

ll. ln a device ot the character de scribed, the combination with a doorhaving a latch and a knob spindle for actuating the latch, oitanti,-panic door releasing mechanism, comlirising a casing adapted to beapplied to a door and to receive one end of said spindle, a. movableoperating member upon the outside of the casing, means tor normallyholding the operating member in an intermediate position, a slide withinthe casing, means interposed between the operating member and slide formoving the slide in the one direction when the operating member is movedin either direction, and means connecting the slide and spindle foroperating the saine.

l2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a doorhaving a latch and a knob spindle for actuating the latch, ot anti-panicdoor releasing mechanism, comprising a casing adapted to be applied to adoor and to receive one end of said spindle, a movable operating memberupon thc out-side of the casing, means for normally holding theoperating member in an intermediate position, a member within the casingconnected to the spindle to turn the same, thrust transmitting meanswithin the casing including a cushioning spring and adapted to transmitthe thrust of the operating l-ever to the member connected to thespindle when the lever is moved in either direction from itsintermediate position.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination with a doorhaving a latch and a knob spindle for actuating the latch, ot'anti-panic door releasing mechanism, comprising a casing adapted to beapplied to a door and to receive one end of said spindle, a movableoperating member upon the outside of the casing, means for normallyholding the operating member in an intermediate position, and yieldingmeans within the casing transmitting the thrust ot the operating leverwhen the same is moved in either direction from its intermediateposition to the spindle to turn the same in ai given directionregardless of the direction of movement ot the operating lever.

14-Tl1e combination with a door, of a fastener actuating mechanismsecured to the inner side thereof, said mechanism comprising anactuating member and movable fastener actuating members adapted to beoperated by said actuating member, and means associated with one of saidmembers for securing` said mechanism against actuation either infastener releasing or in door fastening position.

ln testimony whereof, I hereunto aliix my signature.

VVlLLIAltl BERTRAlll BLLES.

